Clothespin



Jan. 22, 1952 D. C. SMITH CLOTHESPIN Filed Dec. 5, 1949 Fig.3.

Inventor David C Smith M mi? aweylfm Patented Jan. 22, 1952 UNITED S TATES PATENT OFFICE CLOTHESPIN M David 0. Smith, Chicago, 111.

-Application December 5, 1949, Serial No. 131,187 2 Claims (01. 24-137) This invention relates to fastening elements and more particularly to a novel and useful clothespin, the present invention constituting an improvement over U. S. Patent No. 2,099,177, issued November 16, 1937.

An object of this invention is to provide a clothespin having a pair of spring pressed jaw members the longitudinal and transverse movement of which is restrained to definite limits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothespin which will be constructed from only one piece and yet perform the functions of a spring pressed clothespin.

A yet further object is to provide a novel clothespin having spring pressed jaw members which may by use of one hand be easily secured over clothes and clothesline.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide a clothespin which is eificient and reliable in performance, simple, strong, and durable'and practical in construction, easy to manufacture, and capable of being manufactured from a variety of materials though being specially adapted to be made from resin, cellulose and other plastics of the desired characteristics.

These, together with the various ancillary objects of the invention which will become apparcut as the following description proceeds are attained by the clothespin, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings: wherein;

Figure 1 is a front vertical elevated view of the novel clothespin, showing the invention in a closed position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the invention;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the clothespin, showing it in an open position" as grasped by the hand of the user; and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing in detail the structure of one of the arms of the clothespin.

With continued references to the accompany ing drawings wherein like characters designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral I0 is used to designate the clothespin comprising the present invention. The clothespin comprises a bar or piece of resilient plastic material bent so as to form an arcuate spring portion [2. I

A pair of arms l4 and iii are integral with the arcuate spring portion l2 and are arranged in crossing relation, the ends of which are angularly offset to form opposed jaw members l8 and 20.

The jaw members have notches 22 and 24 cut therein to provide means for encompassing a clothes line.

The lower portion of the arms l4 and I6 are provided with longitudinal grooves on one side thereof as at 26 to provide pairs of spaced shoulders such as shown at 36 and 32, the latter forming the bottom of the groove defined by the flanges 34 and 36 and the side walls 25, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The flanges 34 and 36 extending upwardly from the shoulders 32 overlie the recesses 26. The sides of the arms l4 and It opposite to the recesses 26 are recessed as at 33. and 46 respectively.

In operation, the clothespin is depressed in opposition to the inherent outward urging of the resilient spring portion l2, in the manner shown in Figure 3. As long as the relative movement between the crossing arm portions is of a limited nature, the flanges 34 and 36 will abut the arms I6 and I4 within their recesses 40 and 38 respectively. Of course, the over-all movement of the arm portions will be limited by the shoulders 30 and 32 at opposite ends of the recesses 26. After the clothespin has been opened to the position shown in Figure 3, it may then be placed over the clothes on a clothes line. Upon release of the hand of the person hanging clothes, the grooved jaws will clamp the clothes to the line.

It will be noted that the fianges 34 and 36 on the arms l4 and I6, respectively, when in interlocking engagement within their respective recesses 38 and 46, restrain the arms from transverse movement so that the clothes and clothes line cannot because of their bulk twist the clothespin off of the line. It will be understood that the flanges 34 and 36 will be of sufllcient length so that under normal use of the clothespin, as when pinning clothes to a line, they will remain interlocked with their respective side walls 25.

In view of the foregoing, it is believed that a device has been provided which will accomplish all of the objects hereinabove set forth.

Inasmuch as certain modifications in construction and design will be evident to one skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawing, it is intended to limit the invention only by the scope of the claims hereinafter set forth.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A clothespin comprising an elongated resilient bar bent backwardly upon itself and crossed forming a pair of crossing arm portions,

a pair of engaging jaws on the ends of said crossing arm portions and integral therewith, each of said crossing arm portions having an elongated recess for slidably retaining the opposing crossing arm portion so that the longitudinal axis of said resilent bar and jaws lie substantially in the same plane, each of said jaws having a flange portion which overlies the adjacent recess on each crossing arm portion, said flange portion on each of the jaws slidably engaging an opposing crossing'arm portion and restraining the same against transverse movement with respect to the longitudinal axis of said jaw when said crossing arm portions are in preselected relation to each other, while permitting relative movement of said jaws to open the same to receive material to be yieldably held therebetween: v

2. A clothespin as in claim 1 wherein the entire 4 clothespin consists of an integral one-piece structure.

DAVID 0. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS m Number Name Date 1,448,679 Scott Mar. 13, 1923 2,099,177 Smith Nov. 16, 1937 2,303,961 Sprague Dec. 1, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 237,548 Great Britain Nov. 19, 1925 

